The Launching a Regional Residential Recruitment Effort Cohort is for rural community leaders who want to do a better job of seeing, reaching, inviting, and welcoming new residents. This cohort will explore how communities across a region can work together to share a stronger story, connect with people who are looking for what small towns have to offer, and welcome those new residents who have already made the move.

This four-session learning cohort is designed to help rural communities build an effective regional resident recruitment effort. Through expert guidance from Ben Winchester, a nationally recognized rural sociologist, participants will:

• • Learn about migration trends using demographic data,
  • Map shared assets that attract newcomers,
  • Gather insights from new residents,
  • Develop regional collaboration strategies, and
  • Host an actual community welcoming event sometime in 2026.

Sessions will take place from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CT on August 5, August 19, September 2, and September 14. All sessions will be hosted on Zoom.

How each session works:

• • Welcome
  • Debrief
  • Topic presented
  • Facilitation discussion
  • Cohort engagement
  • Work together
  • Recap
  • Action to take before the next event